Some souvenirs fit in your suitcase, but the best ones sizzle in your skillet. In Chiang Mai, Thai cooking classes let you swap tourist menus for woks, spice grinders, and armfuls of lemongrass. Whether you burn the garlic or master the perfect Pad Thai, you’ll leave with stories (and recipes) that taste like adventure! Read on for our list of the best ones that are your backstage pass to the flavors locals truly love!
1. May Kaidee Cooking School
Address: 29 4 Chang Moi Kao Rd, Tambon Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand (Google Maps)
Opening Hours: Sun-Fri 11:00-20:30 (Sat Off)
Class Time: 8:50 a.m. / 1:50 p.m.
Class Duration: 4 Hours
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May Kaidee Cooking School is a plant-based playground for food lovers who want all the Thai flavor without the meat. Between pounding your own chili paste and whipping up classics like tom yum, green curry, and Pad Thai, you’ll quickly realize this is less like a class and more like a delicious cooking party. Expect to roll fresh spring rolls, toss tangy som tam, and even learn how to sweeten things up with sticky rice and mango, all while nibbling on fruit, sipping water, and soaking up tips from friendly local instructors. To top it all off, there’s even a mini Thai dance demo, so you leave with a full stomach, new skills, and a few extra moves for your next kitchen dance session!
▷Go plant-based and cook Thai classics with a fresh twist!◁
2. Basil Cookery School
Address: 381 witchayanon road, Tambon Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand (Google Maps)
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 08:30-20:30 (Sun Off)
Class Time: 9:00 a.m. / 4:00 p.m.
Class Duration: 4 Hours 30 Mins
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Basil Cookery School feels like stepping into a cozy local kitchen where you’re encouraged to roll up your sleeves and cook like a true Thai home chef. You’ll choose seven dishes to master, from noodles and curries to stir-fries and desserts, and even pound your own curry paste from scratch. With optional hotel pickup and friendly instructors guiding you at every step, the whole experience feels less like a formal class and more like a laid-back cooking hangout with new foodie friends.
▷Cook, taste, and master iconic Thai dishes hands-on!◁
3. Grandma’s Cooking School
Address: 172/7 Moo.8 Saraphi Chiang Mai 50140, Thailand (Google Maps)
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00-19:00
Class Time: 8:30 a.m. / 3:30 p.m.
Class Duration: 4 Hours
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Grandma’s Cooking School is where Thai food feels like family… warm, welcoming, and bursting with flavor. You’ll start with a market tour, learning about Thai ingredients before heading to the school for a hands-on class that includes a trip to an organic farm, egg collection, and cooking up a feast of classic dishes like pad Thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice. With tasting breaks, recipe books, and friendly smiles, it’s the kind of experience that makes you feel like you’ve cooked with grandma herself.
▷Shop, cook, and taste Thai food the way locals do!◁
4. Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary & Authentic Thai Cooking Class
Address: 241 Soi Ban Rai Nuea 2 Mu 3, Nam Phrae, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand (Google Maps)
Opening Hours: Daily 08:30-21:00
Class Time: 8:30 a.m.
Class Duration: 10 Hours 30 Mins
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Team Aim Thai Cooking School is where the fun begins with a market adventure and culminates in a feast of classic Thai dishes, such as spring rolls, curries, and mango sticky rice, all prepared under the guidance of a seasoned instructor. But the real magic happens when the kitchen aprons come off, and you head out to the elephant sanctuary, where you’ll swap ladles for banana bunches and spend the afternoon feeding, bathing, and bonding with rescued elephants in their lush jungle home. Between crafting herbal snacks for the elephants, enjoying a refreshing break at a waterfall, and making your own Thai souvenir, it’s an experience that’s equal parts delicious, heartwarming, and unforgettable.
5. Baan Farm Thai Cooking School
Address: 150, Nong jom, San Sai District, Chiang Mai 50210, Thailand (Google Maps)
Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-13:30 / 14:00-18:30
Class Time: 9:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Class Duration: 4 Hours
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Baan Farm Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai is a half‑day, hands‑on experience on a small organic farm just outside the Old City. You’ll visit a local market, pick fresh ingredients from the garden, and cook five dishes of your choice. With friendly, English‑speaking local instructors, you’ll learn how Thai flavors work together as you prepare your own meal and then sit down to enjoy it. Both morning and afternoon classes are available, including hotel transfers from the Old City, and there are vegan and vegetarian options too.
▷Learn how to cook Thai dishes in a relaxed farm in Chiang Mai!◁
Check out our dinner & afternoon tea experiences in Chiang Mai:
- Khantoke Dinner: Northern Style Dinner with Cultural Performance in Chiang Mai
- The Dibba Yana Chitta Dinner Cruise by Anantara Chiang Mai (+ 7-Course Thai Fine Dining)
- JAO Ping River Cruise by Anantara in Chiang Mai – Sunrise/ Afternoon tea/ Dinner Cruise options
- Exquisite Afternoon Tea at InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping
Read more of our blogs about Chiang Mai:
- Best Michelin Restaurants in Chiang Mai
- 7 Most Instagram-Worthy Cafes in Chiang Mai
- 8 Best Markets in Chiang Mai to Visit
- 15 Activities You Must Do in Chiang Mai
Find the best classes along with travel deals and book with confidence at Trazy.com, Your Travel Shop for Asia!
